Course Descriptions

This course provides an introduction to FOIP with a focus primarily on the Act's privacy provisions. Participants will understand the requirements for protecting personal information, including the collection, use, disclosure, accuracy, linkage and disposition of personal information. A Certificate of Completion is provided.

Audience:

New FOIP Coordinators and public body employees with a role in protection of personal information

Topics covered:

History, purpose and scope of FOIP

Roles and responsibilities of key players

Key definitions of words and phrases

Types of requests to access general or personal information a public body may receive

Collection of personal information (when and how personal information can be collected)

Accuracy of personal information

Correction of personal information (handling an individual's request to correct his or her personal information)

Retention of personal information (how long does personal information have to be kept)

Use and disclosure of personal information (how personal information can be used and when personal information can be disclosed)

Protection of personal information (what safeguards need to be or should be implemented to protect an individual's personal information)

Role of the Commissioner related to the protection of privacy provisions of the Act (handling privacy complaints and conducting investigations)

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the right of access, how to apply the principles which underlie access to information and the principles governing the interpretation and application of exceptions to disclosure. Exercises and a case study dealing with requests for access to information will provide additional practice for participants. A Certificate of Completion is provided.

Audience:

New FOIP Coordinators and public body employees who are involved in processing FOIP requests or who are responsible for making decisions on routine disclosures of information

Topics covered:

Difference between a FOIP request and other ways to access general and personal information

Roles and responsibilities of key players

Steps in processing a request to access general or personal information under the Act

Mandatory and discretionary exceptions (information that must or may not be disclosed)

Steps in applying the mandatory and discretionary exceptions

Powers of the Commissioner to conduct a review and investigate a public body's decision relating to a FOIP request

This course focuses on the administrative requirements for managing an effective FOIP program or function within a public body, such as managing the FOIP request process, developing a privacy protection plan, understanding the requirements for a Privacy Impact Assessment and preparing for reviews and investigations by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. A Certificate of Completion is provided.

Audience:

New FOIP Coordinators or managers who are responsible for FOIP within a public body

Topics covered:

Roles and responsibilities of various public body officials

Delegation of FOIP responsibilities

Role of the FOIP Coordinator

Roles of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the responsible Minister and Policy and Governance, Service Alberta

Practices of routine disclosure and active dissemination of information, including personal information

Directories of public bodies and personal information banks

Accessing manuals and guidelines

How to process a FOIP request for access to information, including personal information

How to prepare for and respond to a request for review or a privacy complaint

What a review of privacy compliance within a public body could include